Eyes turn to debutants at team selection

Young guns: Sam Sturt, Izak Rankine and Liam Henry

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Debutants give fans added incentive to tune into matches.

If your side is flying then a first-gamer is a bonus.

If your team is struggling they provide hope for the future.

There have been 67 debutants in total thus far in 2020 after just 12 rounds. The league is on track to surpass the 78 first-gamers spread across 22 rounds last year. That's despite there being five fewer games this season due to coronavirus restrictions.

Some debutants will make a grand entrance and announce themselves as ready-made 200-gamers, like Gold Coast's Matt Rowell did in round one.

Others might take time to adjust - Carlton 300-gamer Kade Simpson had three games without a disposal before finding his feet.

Time at the top is brief for many; gone as quickly as they arrived. But every AFL debut is significant.

Those lucky enough to be drafted in the first round usually don't have to wait long for their chance.

Nine of last year's top-10 made their debut within the first 12 rounds. Fremantle livewire Liam Henry, who was snapped up with pick nine, is a chance to complete the set this weekend after overcoming a knee injury.

Sometimes first-game nerves elude players.

Docker Sam Sturt, taken in the 2018 draft, debuted in round one this year and earned the rising star nomination for his three-goal performance.

Suns play-maker Izak Rankine did likewise when he made his long-awaited debut - injury wiped out his first season - in round six.

Then there's the feel-good stories. The tales of players who toiled away in the state leagues before earning a chance.

This season Ben Cavarra (Western Bulldogs, aged 24), Shane McAdam (Adelaide, 25), Jake Aarts (Richmond, 25), Brad Close (Geelong, 21), Kieran Strachan (Adelaide, 24), Tom Hutchesson (GWS Giants, 25) and Nic Reid (West Coast, 24) have all achieved long-held dreams of playing in the AFL.

This week's edition of Best On Ground was written by Warrnambool Standard journalist Justine McCullagh-Beasy